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The Raynham Channel
Board of Selectmen 04/15/2025
(Episode Description is AI generated and may be errors in accuracy)
Raynham's town officials gathered for their regular meeting to address key community matters and share important updates that impact residents' daily lives.
The Fire Department welcomed two new members to their ranks - Patrick Morton, a Raynham native now beginning his orientation, and Caden Riley from Mansfield who will join in August. The department reported increasing service demands, with calls up 20 runs from last year. Residents should mark their calendars for the annual Fireman's Fishing Derby on May 17th, with registration beginning at 7 AM at the fire station.
Spring brings seasonal health concerns, as Health Director Paula reminded everyone. The Bristol County Mosquito Control Project has begun aerial larvicide applications at Hockomock Swamp. With tick season underway, residents should take precautions like applying Permethrin to clothing and performing tick checks after outdoor activities. The department also emphasized proper maintenance of backyard chicken coops and appropriate storage of outdoor materials to prevent rodent infestations.
The board unanimously approved dedicating this year's town report to Reverend James Tilby, recognizing his extensive service as a longtime call firefighter, department chaplain, Cemetery Commission member, and pastor of Raynham's oldest church. Meanwhile, progress continues on the public safety facility project, with officials working toward a January target for bid results. Memorial Day Parade planning is in full swing, with professional bands already secured and the Bridgewater Raynham Regional High School Marching Band and Robotics Team set to participate. Speaking of the robotics team, they're heading to Houston for the World Championship competition - just one example of the excellent achievements happening in local schools despite funding challenges.
Want to participate in the Memorial Day Parade or help plan this important community event? Attend the next planning meeting on April 28th at 6:30 PM in the Town Hall Municipal Meeting Room, or contact the volunteer coordinator for more information.
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Ultimately for the land treats to go through the Alright good evening.
Speaker 2:Everybody Call the meeting to order at 7pm, inform the public that we being both broadcast live and recorded by the right hand channel, and I would ask those with us to join us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Speaker 1:We pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands one nation under God.
Speaker 2:I will entertain a motion to approve the regular session minutes of April 8th and executive session minutes that are being held from April 1st.
Speaker 4:I make a motion to accept the minutes as printed.
Speaker 2:All in favor. Aye For the unanimous department head. We have a fire chief writing a similar sheet.
Speaker 3:Good evening. That's the report for the month of March for the fire department 68 fire incidents, 287 ambulance calls and 234 inspectional services Last year. We're up 20 runs from last year. We're up to 300 runs this year, it 280 last year. Just a couple quick things. One of our new hires, our replacement hires, started his two-week orientation this week, patrick Morton. He's a kid that grew up in Rainham. He's not a kid, he's a. He's in his 30s but we're happy to have him. It was a kind of a long process but he's. He is on his way to his career. And we have another young gentleman starting in August, caden Riley from Mansfield. Outstanding kid, he's going to be a star someday, I think. And the last thing that I have is May 17th is the annual fishing derby. For the fireman's fishing derby you can register at the fire station at 7 o'clock to 8 o'clock and anything after 8 o'clock can go down to Johnson's pond and do that there for rain ham residents.
Speaker 4:And that is it no questions, but I think we missed you last month, chief. You were at the scene of a fire so it didn't get a chance to thank you for the incredible response for read across America that we've got from our fire department. I mean, we had seven members that it was awesome, so thank you, and for everything else thank you and chief just to confirm these two new hires will be fully staffed over there.
Speaker 3:Yes, you guys good, yes, yeah, there's something in the, I believe, but that's for another day, all right.
Speaker 2:We'll take the win while we have it All right. Health Director Paula Rossi-Klapp Paula.
Speaker 5:Good evening, hi. Let's see Update from the board of health. Bristol county mosquito control project began aerial spraying this week at the hobbin of the hawk swamp um april 14th to the 18th. So this week, weather permitting, there is information on the town website regarding the area and type of larvacide that they've been using the past few years. We still have about a case of COVID test kits available free to the public. You can pick them up in the foyer entrance of the town hall. Each kit contains five tests and expires in July.
Speaker 5:Another reminder that tick season is here. Ticks prefer shady, damp, brushy areas and are often found in edge habitat where lawns meet the forest's green space. Ticks do not jump, fly or drop from above. Ticks attach to a host when the host brushes directly against it. A few suggestions to apply Permethrin to your clothing to repel the ticks wearing light-colored clothing and perform tick checks after spending time outdoors.
Speaker 5:Another reminder to the public who have backyard chickens it's very important that you keep the pens clean to avoid rodent issues. Feeding birds will also bring in mice and rats. Your property will become the food source and they will look close by for easy harborage, like sheds and under porches. This also brings up the reminder to keep outdoor storage of wood and other materials from being stacked up next to your home shed or garage takes a village, as we know, and your efforts to help your neighborhood and community stay safe. Thank you to the senior center and Erin for running the save program. We appreciate the help we are getting with uploading boxes of files so we have quick computer response for residents who want as-built plans and document history of their home.
Speaker 5:And on a positive note, I'd like to give a shout out to my staff, kim, mike and Lindsay, who are AND DOCUMENT HISTORY OF THEIR HOME. And ON A POSITIVE NOTE, I'd LIKE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO MY STAFF, kim, mike AND LINDSEY, who ARE KEEPING UP WITH OUR PERMITTING INSPECTIONS, complaints AND HEALTH EDUCATION TO OUR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS. Our department is running smoothly because of their efforts. Unlike my speech tonight, it's not that smooth.
Speaker 2:That's all, ms Riley.
Speaker 4:No questions. Thank you, Paula, for your efforts and that was your staff, thanks no questions.
Speaker 2:Thanks, Paula.
Speaker 4:Thank you, Paula.
Speaker 2:Appreciate it. Have a great night, all right. We have no appointments, no public hearings. Old business, ms Riley.
Speaker 4:I have none.
Speaker 2:Mr Collins, all right. New business. Change of officers at Asian Palace. Their council has requested a change in date of the hearing to April 29. What is the board's pleasure?
Speaker 4:I'll make that motion unanimously discussion town report.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I have. Do you want to take this one up?
Speaker 4:Yeah, I have a nomination that I would like to make that we dedicate the annual town report to Reverend James Tilby. Obviously, Reverend Tilby is a long time Rainham resident and he's one of the most respected members of the community. I think it was only a few years ago that he retired as a call firefighter with our Rainham Fire Department. He still serves as their chaplain and usually emcees a lot of their ceremonies. He has served for many years as an elected member of the Cemetery Commission and is usually one of the candidates on the ballot that gets the most votes, even though he's running unopposed. And he also obviously has served many years as the pastor of our oldest church in Rainham, and through his efforts the church sponsors a number of programs that are open to the public. Their summer concert series is just one of the most popular of those. I think he's a very concerned and dedicated citizen and I think he would be a worthy candidate for that honor. I couldn't agree more Reputability is important.
Speaker 2:Terrific gentleman, I would agree. Jim's a great guy. Served with him as a trustee of the library for over a decade so he's been everywhere.
Speaker 2:I think he's synonymous with Rainham and obviously with the stone church and certainly a deserving recognition. So I have a motion in a second, all in favor. All right, that is unanimous. Thank you and discussion. So this end of the year, I believe we've all submitted recommendations to the administrator and there's a consensus, and so in miss Riley, jump in if I'm getting any of this wrong we vote to authorize the town administrators recommendation, but we keep that private. So it's a surprise prize town meeting.
Speaker 4:Another reason to come to the annual town meeting and that is on your calendar, monday, may 19th, starting at 7 o'clock at the Rainham middle school. Yes, so I'll make the motion that we we vote for the young town administrators recommendation based on his interviews with the three of us separately, and that we withhold the name until the annual town meeting all in favor.
Speaker 2:I approved unanimously tag day request. We have one from Silver City skating club June 7. What's the sports pleasure?
Speaker 4:motion to approve all in favor?
Speaker 2:aye, it's approved. And we have another one from Bristol County Aggie volleyball, august 22nd to 24th, and those dates are approved. What's the boys pleasure? Motion to approve all in favor. That is approved. Time administrators report. Mr Barnes, yes, first of all, we received notice from RATED REPORT.
Speaker 1:Mr BARNES, yes, first OF ALL, we RECEIVED NOTICE FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE. The DEPARTMENT OF FIRE SERVICES HAS GIVEN US A GRANT FOR FIRE SAFETY EQUIPMENT OF TWO THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED AND FORTY THREE DOLLARS AND 41 CENTS. Not A HUGE NUMBER BUT EVERY LITTLE BIT COUNTS. Not a huge number, but every little bit counts. Secondly, a few pieces of news regarding the public safety facility. First of all, there will be a hearing tomorrow night involving the Conservation Commission at 530. Um. Secondly, uh, the state will be coming down to talk about the land trades that are in part involved the public safety building that's a DCAM, and uh, dcam stands for division of capital, asset management and maintenance, and then also the department of agriculture. So they'll be coming next week on earth day. Uh, so we'll be coming next week on Earth Day, so we'll be involved with those two.
Speaker 1:We're obviously trying to work steadily toward being able to put the project out to bid at this time. We're looking at January as being the date when, hopefully, we will have bid results and be able to do something to, as BEING THE DATE WHEN, hopefully, we WILL HAVE BIG RESULTS AND BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING TO MOVE FORWARD. But THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK INVOLVED IN ALL OF THIS. A LOT OF MOVING PARTS BUT WE ARE MOVING. Forward ON IT.
Speaker 2:THANK YOU, greg. Any QUESTIONS MS REID? No QUESTIONS MS COLLINS. Thank you, greg. Any questions? Ms Riley? No questions. Ms Collins no questions Mr.
Speaker 4:Harding Select. Ms Report. Ms Riley, yeah, I have a little report. We had our first planning meeting of this year for the Memorial Day Parade, so we are in full planning mode. Our Police Chief, david LaPlante, captain Peter Beatrice and Rainham Fire Department Lieutenant Jason Collins, as well as our Interim Veterans agent Chris Buckley, who are among those in attendance at the meeting so far, in addition to our Rainham police and firefighters. Through the efforts of our raid volunteer coordinator, becky George, we have already booked our two professional bands, the Bridgewater and Tiffin O'Briar Society Band and the Brockton Firefighters Pipes and Drums, both of which are excellent, as well as the Bridgewater Rainham Regional High School Marching Band and the Bridgewater Rainham Robotics Team, to name just a few.
Speaker 4:Next planning meeting is Monday, april 28th, beginning at 6.30 in the evening, right here in the Municipal Meeting Room at Town Hall. Anyone who is interested in being in the parade or helping plan the parade is encouraged to attend Parade. Participation forms are available in the Selectman's office here at Town Hall or online by emailing ravevolunteercoordinator at gmailcom. And speaking of Bridgewater Rainham's robotics team, I understand they are leaving very early tomorrow morning, heading to Houston, texas, for the World Championship competition, and we wish them the best of luck. We WISH THEM A GREAT COMPETITION AND WE WISH THEM THE BEST OF LUCK. We ARE ALSO HAS TWO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THAT ARE HEADING TO FLORIDA FOR THE DECA CHAMPIONSHIP, so WE WISH THEM WELL.
Speaker 4:Also, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE SOMETHING. Superintendent RYAN POWERS ACTUALLY POINTED THIS OUT AT A MEETING THAT EVEN THOUGH THE FUNDING ISSUES AND RISING CLASS SIZES AND IS OPERATING THIS YEAR WITH MORE STUDENTS AND LESS POSITIONS THAN LAST YEAR. Awesome THINGS, great THINGS ARE STILL HAPPENING IN OUR SCHOOLS, and THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE DEDICATION MOSTLY OF OUR EXCELLENT TEACHERS BUT ALSO SUPPORT STAFF efforts even in these challenging times. And lastly, racam Rainham Channel is holding a Candidates Night Forum this Thursday night, beginning at 7 o'clock here in the Municipal Meeting Room for the candidates for Planning Board. That will be open to the public and it will be broadcast live on the Rainham Channel, comcast 98, or Verizon Channel 34. It will also be replayed on the Rainium Channel before the annual town election, which is taking place on Saturday, april 26. So hopefully everybody has that on their calendar as well. Thank you.
Speaker 2:Thank you, ms Riley. Mr Collins, all right, we have no correspondence this evening, no press time Emergency business. Ms Riley, I have none Mr. Collins Citizen and community input. Also performance of the administrative duties.
Speaker 4:Mr thank you and at this time I want to take a motion for adjournment.
Speaker 2:All in favor? We are adjourned. Have a great evening.